About Us

Terraforming is the foremost organization in Serbia for education about the Holocaust and genocide of the Roma and for countering antisemitism, antigypsyism, xenophobia, and historical distortion.

It was founded as an independent NGO in 2008 by Miško Stanišić and Nevena Bajalica.

Our mission

Terraforming helps societies engage with the past and empowers them to shape a democratic and inclusive present.

Our values

Independence, innovation, inclusion, and expertise are at the core of everything we do. Our projects embed shared democratic values, such as respect, tolerance, and truth, in society.

Our work

We empower professionals with tools to build a thriving memory culture

How we remember the past is just as important as what we remember. A dynamic memory culture based on facts is key to a healthy democracy. But where do you start?
Terraforming’s resources, seminars, and exhibitions reflect the cutting edge of international standards and help educators and memory professionals know they are working in the right direction.

Explore our resources

We shape policy for an inclusive society

Antisemitism, antigypsyism, xenophobia, and the manipulation of history all threaten our society. Standing up to hate and lies that try to divide us is everyone’s responsibility. We work closely with local communities and international experts to anchor action in policy and develop projects that involve key members of society.

Explore our projects

We engage with others internationally and across disciplines

Terraforming connects people and institutions within Serbia and abroad. We are active in numerous international networks, constantly exchanging innovative methodologies and lessons learned, helping the field grow and respond quickly to complex challenges.

Founders

Miško Stanišić,
Director

PRESS: BIO and PHOTO

Nevena Bajalica,
Programme Manager

PRESS: BIO and PHOTO

Our story

Founders Miško Stanišić and Nevena Bajalica were in their early twenties when they witnessed nationalism and hate take hold of society and tear it apart. The Yugoslav Wars that resulted forced them to flee to Sweden and the Netherlands, respectively.

“I was hoping for a cavalry or someone coming to help us and save me. But no one came,” Nevena recalls. “I left everything, very afraid and disappointed.”

Each of them struggled through the anxiety that came with being uprooted and without security, meeting countless others from all around the world who were also traumatized by war. “When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t even realize that this is not normal. This is not how life is supposed to be,” Miško says.

Over time, both became professionally involved in the fields of human rights and civic education: Nevena in the Netherlands as a researcher and later a grant officer, and Miško in Sweden as an educator in adult and political education. They met in 2008 and soon realized they should pool their experience, knowledge, and resilience to support the development of civil society in Serbia. Their goal was to offer new generations an organization they could count on, ensuring they would never again have to face the hopelessness brought on by war and political uncertainty.

Reflecting on the violence and nationalism they had witnessed, they increasingly turned to the Holocaust as a key historical framework for understanding how hatred, propaganda, and the erosion of democratic values can lead to catastrophic consequences.

The term “terraforming” refers to making another planet suitable for human life. “But actually, we should still work on adjusting and improving this world of ours before we move on to other planets,” Miško says. “With what we do in our organization, we hope that we are making this world a little bit better and more habitable for all of us.”

Steering committee

Senior gender equality and human rights expert, Former Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia

Professional woman with light brown hair in a white dress standing in front of a bookshelf.

Brankica Janković

Program Manager at ERIAC Serbia, expert in cultural diplomacy, research, policy, education & advocacy on combating Anti-Roma racism.

Portrait of a woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a navy blue blouse and drop earrings, standing with arms crossed against a dark studio background.

Nadja Greku

Jewish activist, former Secretary of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Yugoslavia. Inscribed in the Golden Book of the Jewish National Fund for his contributions to the Jewish community.

Man wearing glasses and a striped shirt stands in front of a windmill sculpture and a statue in a garden.

Davor Salom

Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. Expert in intergenerational consequences of trauma, impact of violent migration on parent-child relationships, trauma in refugee children and families.

Dr Julija Bala

Historian, Head of the Department for Collection and Professional Processing of Materials, Research, Library and Archives of the “Staro Sajmište” Memorial Center.

Dr Milan Koljanin

Director of the Scientific Center of the “Svetozar Marković” University Library in Belgrade, literary theorist and literary critic.

Dr Vasilije Milnović

Our team

Jelena Jovanović is a project manager and educator with extensive experience in the fields of culture, education, and media. She holds a master’s degree in literary studies from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad. Throughout her career, she has developed professionally in educational program design, librarianship, project management, and international cooperation, combining creativity with analytical precision in her work.

She has been involved in numerous cultural and media projects, collaborating with museums, cultural institutions, and civil society organizations, and contributing to strengthening the capacities of community media. As a Serbian language instructor in Poland, she is dedicated to innovative teaching methods and fostering intercultural dialogue. She believes in the power of dialogue, collaboration, and education as key drivers of social change.

Jelena JovanovićProject Manager

Jovana Savić graduated in Serbian Language and Literature with South Slavic Languages at the Faculty of Philology University of Belgrade. During her master’s studies, she focused on analyzing the connection between factography and fiction in Serbian literature about the Holocaust in the second half of the 20th century. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Serbian literature at the same university.

Her current research focuses on sexual violence against women during the Holocaust, camp brothels, forced prostitution in the camps and trauma as a long-term psychological consequence for the victims.
Jovana actively participates in international projects dedicated to Holocaust education. The aim of her work is to highlight how literature can serve as a significant and relevant medium for the culture of remembrance and for understanding historical truths that are often marginalized.

She speaks English, Catalan and Spanish, and is currently improving her Brazilian Portuguese.

Jovana SavićProject Manager

Nemanja Stevanović is a journalist and communication expert from Niš with over a decade of experience in media and content production. He has worked for BBC News Serbian, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Evropska kuća in Belgrade, specializing in storytelling, video production, and social media. His work focuses on human rights, marginalized groups, and public interest topics, often bridging local and international perspectives.

He is a member of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia and is completing his degree in Serbian Studies at the University of Niš. He lives and works in Belgrade.

Nemanja StevanovićCommunication Manager

Administrative and registration data

LEGAL NAME

English: Terraforming
Serbian: Teraforming

OFFICIAL ADDRESS (Business Postal Address)

Balzakova 16
21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

VISITING ADDRESS (Novi Sad Office)

Ise Bajića 6 / 1
21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Google Map

LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES

Milenko Stanišić
Nevena Bajalica
E-mail: Contact Form

REGISTRATION DATA

Legal Status: Non-profit association (NGO)
Registration (Matični br.): 28024410
Registration date: 04.07.2010
Tax Registration (PIB): 106791153

INTERNATIONAL ID DATA

(EU) PIC: 932179022
(EU) OID: E10254261
(EU) PADOR: RS-2013-BIL-1704863652

DUNS: 538216634
NCAGE: A0VLS
(sam.gov) UEI: GZL4SMK3DLD8

BANK ACCOUNT

ACCOUNT: 170-30014538000-71 (for RSD payments)
IBAN: RS35170003001453800168 (for EURO payments)
IBAN: RS35170003001453801332 (for USD payments)
SWIFT: BACXRSBG
BANK: Unicredit Bank Serbia JSC
ADDRESS: Rajićeva 27, Beograd 11000, Serbia

DOCUMENTS

Complete: Registration and Statute certified (English)

2023 Statute (Serbian) + Statute (English)

Proof of Registration (Serbian & English)

Tax Registration (Serbian & English)

Official name change from Terraforming South to Terraforming

REGISTER OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

Registration nr. 16/2020 in The Records of the Organizers of Volunteer Programs by The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, from December 18, 2020.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Financial Statements are public and available online on the Serbian Business Registers Agency SBRA (Agencija za privredne registre APR) website, in the Register of Financial Statements – in line with the Law on Accounting of the Republic Serbia.

Policy documents

Gender equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Terraforming is committed to promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion and eliminating discrimination. The Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy has been developed to define a framework of conduct and provide guidance to our members, management, employees, volunteers and associates. We aim to ensure that all segments of society are represented in our ranks and to ensure an atmosphere of respect and equality for each of our members, employees, volunteers and associates.

Terraforming is committed to ensuring that a gender perspective and the achievement of gender equality are central to all activities – from long-term organizational development strategies, research, social dialogue, resource allocation, procurement, planning, implementation and monitoring of our programs and projects.

Anti-corruption and procurement policy

In order to maintain high professional and ethical standards in its work, as well as to contribute to the fight against corruption, Terraforming continuously works to strengthen work ethics and culture, standardize work processes in the organization, as well as improve working methods and routines. Guided by the recommendations of the international organization Transparency International and their definition of corruption and ways to combat and report corruption, Terraforming has developed and adopted specific rules.

Child protection Policy

Terraforming is committed to creating and maintaining an adequate learning environment, as well as preventing child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of abuse and exploitation of children.

With the aim of raising awareness, preventing abuse and exploitation of children, helping children, encouraging reporting and quick response to any form and any case of proven, alleged or attempted exploitation or abuse of children, within the framework of our work and influence and in accordance with the nature of the work, board members, employees, volunteers, associates and all other participants in our activities must be familiar with the regulations on working with children.

In accordance with the Strategy of the Council of Europe on the Rights of the Child, the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the National Strategy for the Protection of Children and the Prevention of Violence of the Republic of Serbia, the General and Special Protocol for the Protection of Children and Students from Violence, Neglect and Abuse in Educational Institutions developed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Terraforming has developed its own regulations on working with children.